The not-so-secret diary of Bing (aged 24)
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Raining
It's wet. It's cold. It's windy as Wellington can ever be. Yet I'm kinda relieved. No painting today. Yes! I have begun to appreciate how Michaelangelo felt when he painted the Sistine Chapel with all that reaching above his head. My arms are so sore from sanding. Then again it's taken me four days of sanding and possibly the same to paint (when it dries up), not four years as for Mr Buonarroti. It's interesting, my breaks due to the weather have always come just at the right time, when I've really needed it.
The weekend was really cool. Took Dave P to Stillwaters and then summer life group on Friday night. Both were a lot of fun. We tried Antimonoply at life group. It was slow, but I'd be keen for another crack. It didn't get the best review on www.boardgamegeek.com, but hey- how do you compare to classics like Monopoly Cluedo and of course, Risk?
Saturday was bright, sun and really hot. So I thought it would be cool to hang out with people. Yet EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE was busy doing stuff in the afternoon. I was seriously rejected by like 10 people who had otherstuff on. Man, that sucked. So I went for a photo trek over Mt. Victoria to pick up our Beauty and the Beast tickets by MYSELF. By photo trek I mean, just go on an adventure and take photos of interesting things you see. Its quite cool if you're in the right mood. I'd post them, but then that's two lots of photo's I'm trying to post. A combination of dial up and blogger seem to be frustrating my efforts.
I did however have the priviledge of seeing Beauty and the Beast on Saturday night, with Dave, Nicola and Aimee. It was pretty good. The sets and costumes were amazing, the songs- well out and out Disney, and the cast- well how can I describe it without being biased beccause I know people in it. I'd probably give it a solid 7-8/10- perhaps because it lacked that X-factor of some of the other productions I've seen , or perhaps it's because you can't really "out-magic' a cartoon. I don't know- but it was entertaining none the less. Strangely because I knew two of the cast- Sam, and my friend Matt from college, I ended up going to "The Southern Cross" bar with some of the cast and hanging there until 2:30am. Somehow I still managed to get to church on Sunday, and function as normal until Sunday afternoon, where a leaf out of Abbey's book (a nap) was required.
It's wet. It's cold. It's windy as Wellington can ever be. Yet I'm kinda relieved. No painting today. Yes! I have begun to appreciate how Michaelangelo felt when he painted the Sistine Chapel with all that reaching above his head. My arms are so sore from sanding. Then again it's taken me four days of sanding and possibly the same to paint (when it dries up), not four years as for Mr Buonarroti. It's interesting, my breaks due to the weather have always come just at the right time, when I've really needed it.
The weekend was really cool. Took Dave P to Stillwaters and then summer life group on Friday night. Both were a lot of fun. We tried Antimonoply at life group. It was slow, but I'd be keen for another crack. It didn't get the best review on www.boardgamegeek.com, but hey- how do you compare to classics like Monopoly Cluedo and of course, Risk?
Saturday was bright, sun and really hot. So I thought it would be cool to hang out with people. Yet EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE was busy doing stuff in the afternoon. I was seriously rejected by like 10 people who had otherstuff on. Man, that sucked. So I went for a photo trek over Mt. Victoria to pick up our Beauty and the Beast tickets by MYSELF. By photo trek I mean, just go on an adventure and take photos of interesting things you see. Its quite cool if you're in the right mood. I'd post them, but then that's two lots of photo's I'm trying to post. A combination of dial up and blogger seem to be frustrating my efforts.
I did however have the priviledge of seeing Beauty and the Beast on Saturday night, with Dave, Nicola and Aimee. It was pretty good. The sets and costumes were amazing, the songs- well out and out Disney, and the cast- well how can I describe it without being biased beccause I know people in it. I'd probably give it a solid 7-8/10- perhaps because it lacked that X-factor of some of the other productions I've seen , or perhaps it's because you can't really "out-magic' a cartoon. I don't know- but it was entertaining none the less. Strangely because I knew two of the cast- Sam, and my friend Matt from college, I ended up going to "The Southern Cross" bar with some of the cast and hanging there until 2:30am. Somehow I still managed to get to church on Sunday, and function as normal until Sunday afternoon, where a leaf out of Abbey's book (a nap) was required.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Thanksgiving
There are certain things in life that you don't really appreciate unitl they're gone. Hot showers, good friends, money. Today it was keys. I've been doing some DIY work for Michael and Gillian while they're away. So I have their key and the place to myself- with the company of Mr Smudge the cat and a rabbit who's name I can't remember. So I only have one key, which I try not to keep on me, because I'm running up and down a ladder all day and they get caught.
However getting keys caught on ladder is better than having keys in bag, which is behind locked door. Along with lunch, drink bottle and reading material for lunch time. Thankfully I was able to use one of the neighbour's phones to organise a ride home and they also gave me a drink bottle, but I couldn't reach Caitlin, a 12 year old girl who is looking after the pets. So all day I dreamed about sandwiches. Ok, so a small Adidas plug there, but also water, and the chicken roll I had just brought and luckily put into the fridge. i was still able to work because I'd left the garage open, but I didn't do too much ladder climbing- wasn't too keen on the heights with an empty stomach. Ironically, Caitlin arrived to feed the animals just before my ride home did, but I was so glad to see her.
It's funny because I was asking God to use me today, yet I ended up totally being in the dependance of strangers. It was... humbling, to say the least. I know really appreciate my keys and the access they give me to things that can be easily taken for granted.
In other news, I have finally gotten rid of MSN Messenger. I am now using AdiumX, which is stable, Mac based and has ducks for icons. This third point makes me especially happy (Heh heh heh, I like ducks ; ) ).
There are certain things in life that you don't really appreciate unitl they're gone. Hot showers, good friends, money. Today it was keys. I've been doing some DIY work for Michael and Gillian while they're away. So I have their key and the place to myself- with the company of Mr Smudge the cat and a rabbit who's name I can't remember. So I only have one key, which I try not to keep on me, because I'm running up and down a ladder all day and they get caught.
However getting keys caught on ladder is better than having keys in bag, which is behind locked door. Along with lunch, drink bottle and reading material for lunch time. Thankfully I was able to use one of the neighbour's phones to organise a ride home and they also gave me a drink bottle, but I couldn't reach Caitlin, a 12 year old girl who is looking after the pets. So all day I dreamed about sandwiches. Ok, so a small Adidas plug there, but also water, and the chicken roll I had just brought and luckily put into the fridge. i was still able to work because I'd left the garage open, but I didn't do too much ladder climbing- wasn't too keen on the heights with an empty stomach. Ironically, Caitlin arrived to feed the animals just before my ride home did, but I was so glad to see her.
It's funny because I was asking God to use me today, yet I ended up totally being in the dependance of strangers. It was... humbling, to say the least. I know really appreciate my keys and the access they give me to things that can be easily taken for granted.
In other news, I have finally gotten rid of MSN Messenger. I am now using AdiumX, which is stable, Mac based and has ducks for icons. This third point makes me especially happy (Heh heh heh, I like ducks ; ) ).
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Weird habits.
Carmi decided to tag me. I’m finally getting round to replying. The tag was five weird habits I have:
1. Lollies that are mine don’t last very long. I’m like a lolly-holic, can’t stop they’re finished.
2. I talk to myself (kind of like JD off Scrubs, but nowhere near as cool)- although I do start writing journal entries and blog posts that never get written in my head. So you could say that I blog to myself too.
3. I play Risk and turn into a raging psychopath (well once or twice…).
4. When I have to sit still for ages, I’ll check my pulse, or percuss over things like my knees, my chest or the table. (Percussion is what doctors do to check empty spaces like lungs and gut are empty)
5. I find my wannabe biceps fascinating to look at.
Is this true? Can you think of anymore (Free shot, hit me, hit me). I can’t be bothered tagging anyone (rules, meh!) but feel free to have a crack if you haven’t already. Either post it on your blog or in the comments below.
Carmi decided to tag me. I’m finally getting round to replying. The tag was five weird habits I have:
1. Lollies that are mine don’t last very long. I’m like a lolly-holic, can’t stop they’re finished.
2. I talk to myself (kind of like JD off Scrubs, but nowhere near as cool)- although I do start writing journal entries and blog posts that never get written in my head. So you could say that I blog to myself too.
3. I play Risk and turn into a raging psychopath (well once or twice…).
4. When I have to sit still for ages, I’ll check my pulse, or percuss over things like my knees, my chest or the table. (Percussion is what doctors do to check empty spaces like lungs and gut are empty)
5. I find my wannabe biceps fascinating to look at.
Is this true? Can you think of anymore (Free shot, hit me, hit me). I can’t be bothered tagging anyone (rules, meh!) but feel free to have a crack if you haven’t already. Either post it on your blog or in the comments below.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
I've been thinking about grace, the grail that is YOUR FACE
Ah, "your face" jokes you can never get sick of them. Or maybe you were already so sick of them that they couldn't get any worse, and you are now impervious to their evil charms. Anywya this efforts from Dave Dobbyn, "Its the truth" from his "available light" album. It's a good 'un, even if there is a reference to "your face" in there (Apologies for the massive in-joke there).
So anyway, Friday avo was spent in Rotorua playing some putt-putt at one of the most insane courses in NZ. Sam and I also took a brief sojourn around a maze whilst Jacqui decided that taking a full days hike in the same maze was more to her liking. Friday night was spent in Whakatane, at the camping ground. It was a cool wee place, a lot of history to be seen, we saw one of the only "inner city" water falls in the world (it's on a cliff at the edge of town). We also found a cave, and climbed a rock. These apparently marked "Whakatane" to Tuaroa (sp?), a young Maori chief who was sent to establish a settlement there way back in the day. Our one night tenting was also an interesting experience, especially with the tent that Jacqui was staying in requiring some make-shift repairs to stay-up right (it did last the night though!) and someone's snoring keeping most of the surrounding tent occupants awake. I really should of hit him, but couldn't be bothered pulling my arm out of the sleeping bag. Anyway, Jacqui and I could sleep in the car ; ).
Saturday was a return trip to Tauranga along the Bay of Plenty. Via a free lunch, swim and my first sunburn in ages at Ohope beach. That was really cool. Of note, we passed through Matata. This was a small town that was devastated by flooding earlier this year. They showed remarkable pictures of houses moving down flooded streets and bridges being swept away. Thing is you couldn't really tell too much had happened there, so props to all the workers and community for their restoration work. New Years Eve was spent at Lydia's with her parents and then at the Mount (with Katie for a bit). Lyd's parents were amazingly welcoming and we had the most awesome cheesecake and caramel mudcake for dessert. I did want to die quietly afterwards but what a way that would have been to go! Perhaps eating all that dessert was good, as we had a heck of a walk from the car to the Mount. Surprisingly it was tamer than I had imagined, but with all the drunk boppers and loud pop music, I'm glad I've done it, but won't be amping to go back in a hurry.
New Years morning- spent watching the incredibly hypnotizing "Alice in Wonderland" at Lydia's with our intrepid crew and Joe. Although it dragged, you couldn't quite pull yourself away. Apparently I slept through church- as did everyone else who didn't know that the service was at 10am, not 10:45. Opps. Finally, (yes it was a huge effort) we packed the car and departed to Hastings. After some interesting memory navigation from Sam, we arrived at Sharon's, for our 4th consecutive BBQ. Interestingly I'm not sick of BBQ yet. Sharron then took Wendy, Yogs and Shelly and ourselves to the maize maze (as if we hadn't had enough of getting lost!) where we actually had heaps of fun. Especially as Sharron knew the owner and most of the staff.
Monday the 2nd, involved a tiki-tour of Hastings and a view from Te Mata peak. We also got to see Yogs and Shelly's christmas present- a new motorbike. Sounded pretty good really. From there, it was back home to Wellington.
So there you go. A tale of 2000km, daring adventures, oddball antics, about 9 energy drinks each for Sam and I and a lot of getting lost. Have I learnt anything? Well, I did learn a few lessons about compromise and group decision making. And about reading signs rather than trusting gut instincts (which can be wrong). I also came to a new appreciation of a hot shower, which along with a cold drink and a friendly face (not in the shower!) I now think are some of the best things on earth. Sometimes some of the best things in life are (nearly) free.
Ah, "your face" jokes you can never get sick of them. Or maybe you were already so sick of them that they couldn't get any worse, and you are now impervious to their evil charms. Anywya this efforts from Dave Dobbyn, "Its the truth" from his "available light" album. It's a good 'un, even if there is a reference to "your face" in there (Apologies for the massive in-joke there).
So anyway, Friday avo was spent in Rotorua playing some putt-putt at one of the most insane courses in NZ. Sam and I also took a brief sojourn around a maze whilst Jacqui decided that taking a full days hike in the same maze was more to her liking. Friday night was spent in Whakatane, at the camping ground. It was a cool wee place, a lot of history to be seen, we saw one of the only "inner city" water falls in the world (it's on a cliff at the edge of town). We also found a cave, and climbed a rock. These apparently marked "Whakatane" to Tuaroa (sp?), a young Maori chief who was sent to establish a settlement there way back in the day. Our one night tenting was also an interesting experience, especially with the tent that Jacqui was staying in requiring some make-shift repairs to stay-up right (it did last the night though!) and someone's snoring keeping most of the surrounding tent occupants awake. I really should of hit him, but couldn't be bothered pulling my arm out of the sleeping bag. Anyway, Jacqui and I could sleep in the car ; ).
Saturday was a return trip to Tauranga along the Bay of Plenty. Via a free lunch, swim and my first sunburn in ages at Ohope beach. That was really cool. Of note, we passed through Matata. This was a small town that was devastated by flooding earlier this year. They showed remarkable pictures of houses moving down flooded streets and bridges being swept away. Thing is you couldn't really tell too much had happened there, so props to all the workers and community for their restoration work. New Years Eve was spent at Lydia's with her parents and then at the Mount (with Katie for a bit). Lyd's parents were amazingly welcoming and we had the most awesome cheesecake and caramel mudcake for dessert. I did want to die quietly afterwards but what a way that would have been to go! Perhaps eating all that dessert was good, as we had a heck of a walk from the car to the Mount. Surprisingly it was tamer than I had imagined, but with all the drunk boppers and loud pop music, I'm glad I've done it, but won't be amping to go back in a hurry.
New Years morning- spent watching the incredibly hypnotizing "Alice in Wonderland" at Lydia's with our intrepid crew and Joe. Although it dragged, you couldn't quite pull yourself away. Apparently I slept through church- as did everyone else who didn't know that the service was at 10am, not 10:45. Opps. Finally, (yes it was a huge effort) we packed the car and departed to Hastings. After some interesting memory navigation from Sam, we arrived at Sharon's, for our 4th consecutive BBQ. Interestingly I'm not sick of BBQ yet. Sharron then took Wendy, Yogs and Shelly and ourselves to the maize maze (as if we hadn't had enough of getting lost!) where we actually had heaps of fun. Especially as Sharron knew the owner and most of the staff.
Monday the 2nd, involved a tiki-tour of Hastings and a view from Te Mata peak. We also got to see Yogs and Shelly's christmas present- a new motorbike. Sounded pretty good really. From there, it was back home to Wellington.
So there you go. A tale of 2000km, daring adventures, oddball antics, about 9 energy drinks each for Sam and I and a lot of getting lost. Have I learnt anything? Well, I did learn a few lessons about compromise and group decision making. And about reading signs rather than trusting gut instincts (which can be wrong). I also came to a new appreciation of a hot shower, which along with a cold drink and a friendly face (not in the shower!) I now think are some of the best things on earth. Sometimes some of the best things in life are (nearly) free.
